`ARTBEAT' AT MILESTONE, CROSSROADS

Jim KirkCHICAGO TRIBUNE

Even by network standards--where "longevity" is not in the typical broadcasting executive's vocabulary--100 episodes would be something to celebrate.

But from a local programming standpoint, such an event may be cause to break out the champagne. After all, with dwindling resources and limits to what is and can be done locally anymore, shows come and go more often than Cubs relievers.

But at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, a local show reaches that milestone--WTTW-Ch. 11's "Artbeat Chicago"--even as it faces some changes.

Since its debut on April 23, 1997, the weekly half-hour show has provided at least a glimpse of the artistic makeup of Chicago while also covering some of its most famous exports, including such names as John Malkovich and Gary Sinise, mystery novelist Sarah Paretsky and blues legend Buddy Guy.

On Wednesday, the show looks at singer/songwriter Steve Earle, who spent months in Chicago teaching a class at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Also featured is Klezmer music, a look at the old Maxwell Street market and photographer David Plowden as he goes on a photo shoot of the steel mills in Gary.

So far, the show has succeeded without a host to link its various segments.

But with "Artbeat" being folded into the station's upcoming "Network Chicago" programming slate set to debut in July, the station is looking for a host.

"I don't think any of us expect to see the show change in terms of what is at its essence," says Geoffrey Baer, a producer who, along with executive producer Fawn Ring, has been with the show since its debut. "We think a host can really help us make it accessible to a wider audience."

The station is assembling a short list of candidates to host the show.

Baer is also looking for his own replacement. As part of the ongoing changes with "Network Chicago," he'll work on one of the station's new programs expected to be launched in July.

Wednesday's 100th show will rerun at 1:30 a.m. Friday and at 11 p.m. Sunday.

Another WGN departure: Audrey Clarke, producer of WGN-AM 720's top-rated morning show for the last four years, is leaving the station to go back to school--business school, that is. Clarke, considered one of the strongest talk-radio producers in the city, is the second producer to leave the station in the last three weeks. Tracy Huevelman, producer of the station's afternoon show, left to take a job outside of radio.

Clarke, who had a close working relationship with former morning host Bob Collins, said she had talked about going back to school even before Collins' death in a plane crash in February.

"When Bob was signing his five-year contract last year, I knew I probably wouldn't be Bob's producer for five years," she said Tuesday. "I had been toying with the idea of going back to business school for some time.

"It was a tough, tough, tough decision."

Still, her departure next month comes at a crucial time for the station, which is trying to hold on to Collins' gigantic ratings in the morning with Spike O'Dell. O'Dell, the station's former afternoon host, replaced Collins.

The station is searching for a replacement for Clarke.

Web jump: Keith Sgariglia, WKQX-FM 101.1's Internet specialist, jumps to ABC-owned WXCD-FM 94.7 to head up the station's Internet capabilities as it looks to beef up its Web site and tap into more of ABC's content. He also will oversee the Internet site of ESPN Radio's WMVP-AM 1000, also owned by ABC.

Watson on WFMT: WFMT-FM 98.7, in a special edition of "Folkstage," broadcasts folk artist Doc Watson's upcoming sold-out performance live from the Old Town School of Folk Music. The one-hour concert at 8 p.m. Saturday will be hosted by Rich Warren and distributed nationally through the WFMT Fine Arts Network.